Contact: Linea Gagliano
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For Immediate Release
Portland, OR, February 17, 2023 – Eight outstanding individuals in Oregon’s wine industry were recognized this week at the 19th annual Oregon Wine Symposium. Here are details on the winners as well as those who presented awards to them.
Founders Award
Barbara Gross, Operations Director of Cooper Mountain, presented the Founders Award to Robert Gross, known as the Innovator at Cooper Mountain Vineyards. Born in NYC, Bob and his wife traveled west in 1976 with their three children in tow. His love of Pinot Noir drew them to Oregon. Bob splits his time between a natural medicine practice and Cooper Mountain. With his medical background and love of making wines, he was the first to introduce Biodynamic wine growing in Oregon in 1999.
Lifetime Achievement
Danuta and Robin Pfeiffer were recognized for Lifetime Achievement in Oregon Wine. Ed King, the founder of King Estate Winery presented them the award for their work in the industry.
As the owners and winemakers of Pfeiffer Winery, Robin grew up on the land that is now Pfeiffer Vineyards & Winery. Robin is one of the early pioneers in the Oregon wine industry having planted his 70-acre vineyard on the south facing slope of the property in 1984. He also planted a sustainable, award-winning forest on the north-facing slope.
Danuta was a ski instructor, swim instructor, scuba diver, sky diver, and a long-distance bicycle rider. Graduating from the University of Colorado, she held several high-profile TV and radio jobs in San Diego. She is now instrumental in making Oregon wine with her husband, Robin.
Outstanding Industry Leadership
Bill Sweat, the co-founder of Winderlea Vineyard and Winery, presented the Outstanding Industry Leadership Award to Drs. Jeanne and David Beck of Crawford Beck Vineyard. Since 2006, Drs. Jeanne and David Beck have made exceptional local and statewide contributions to the success of Oregon’s wine and grape growing industry. In their home region, Jeanne and David have been active in the Eola-Amity Hills Winegrowers Association and the Mid-Willamette Valley Winegrowers group. The 48-acre Crawford Beck farm is well-known by dozens of students who have learned first-hand about viticultural advances and the unique challenges presented by growing conditions and climate change in the Willamette Valley.
Vineyard Excellence Award
The Vineyard Excellence Award was presented to two outstanding vineyard managers. Pedro Martinez and Alejandro Avalos were both honored with the coveted Decanter Award.
Tim Ramey, co-owner of Zenith Vineyard, presented the Vineyard Excellence Award to Pedro Martinez, the vineyard’s “Excellent Farm Manager.” Martinez is committed to respecting the land, the vineyard, and the wines that come from their site as things of great beauty, to be carefully and lovingly tended.
DeAnna Ornelas of AHIVOY, an organization that strengthens the Oregon wine community by empowering vineyard stewards through education, awarded Alejandro Avalos the honor for his work as Vineyard Manager for Results Partners, the largest and most comprehensive vineyard development company in the Pacific Northwest with over 3,000 new acres planted in the past thirty years. Alejandro was recognized for his exemplary work in the organization.
Industry Partner
Paul Beck, the founder of Willamette Wine Concierge, presented Jackie Crawford of Red Hills Compliance Service with the Industry Partner Award. Jackie began her career working in Federal Government Program Compliance and data system development. After working at Oregon Wine Services & Storage, it became clear to Crawford that the Oregon wine industry needed an independent, local compliance service to help members of the industry navigate the complex network of laws, requirements and restrictions across the country. In August 2016, she started Red Hills Compliance Services where she provides both small and large Oregon wineries with a full spectrum of compliance services.
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About the Oregon Wine Board
The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research, and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. To learn more, visit industry.oregonwine.org.
